Dowland's Lachrimae

Fretwork marks the 400th anniversary of the death of one of the finest and most compelling Renaissance masters, John Dowland. Usually associated with melancholy, Dowland's compositions explore the complete range of human emotions with a unique blend of spirit, heart and intellect; and many of his Galiards contain virtuosic writing within lively, toe-tapping dance music.

Fretwork's programme includes Dowland's magnificent 1604 Lachrimæ, or 'Seven Teares'; slow instrumental pavanes of great beauty which recall Dowland's promise that 'neither are teares shed always in sorrow, but sometimes in joy and gladnesse'.

As Dowland says in his dedication to Queen Anne of Denmark:
'And though the title doth promise teares, unfit guests in these ioyfull times, yet no doubt pleasant are the teares which Musicke weepes, neither are teares shed alwayes in sorrow, but sometime in ioy and gladnesse.'

Adrian Williams wrote Teares to Dreams in 2004 for the Cheltenham Festival. It is a beautiful and poignant reflection on Dowland's pavans, employing the same forces, yet bringing a contemporary sensibility to the 17th-century form.

'Fretwork is the finest viol consort on the planet' – Stephen Pettitt, The London Evening Standard

Programme:
Dowland The King of Denmark's Galiard
The Earle of Essex Galiard
M. John Langton's Pavan
Piper's Pavan – lute solo
M. Henry Noell his Galiard
M. Giles Hoby his Galiard
Sir Henry Umpton's Funerall
Sir John Souch his Galiard
M. George Whitehead his Almand
M. Bucton his Galiard
Semper Dowland semper Dolens
Adrian Williams Teares to Dreams
Dowland Lachrimæ Antiquæ
Lachrimæ Antiquæ Novæ
Lachrimæ Gementes
Lachrimæ Tristes
Lachrimæ Coactæ
Lachrimæ Amantis
Lachrimæ Veræ

Performers:
Elizabeth Kenny lute
Fretwork